342 HISTORY OF THE GRANGE MOVEMENT; OR, 



FARMER GREEN TRIES HIS REAPER. 



and he felt confident that he would be able to keep it 

 busy on his neighbors' farms, all through the season, 

 after he had cut his own crop. 



The agent was a smooth tongued, plausible fellow, 

 and he plied the farmer with every argument he was 

 master of. The result was that the farmer bought the 

 reaper. He had not the money to pay for it, but he 

 gave what is called in Iowa " an iron-clad note" for it. 

 In plainer English, he gave his note accompanied with 

 a statement of property. By the laws of Iowa such 

 a note is equivalent to a mortgage. And so, in order 

 to purchase the reaper, the farmer had imperilled his 

 property, and had placed the safety of his home upon 

 the turn of a chance. 



The machine arrived in due time, and was found to 

 be all the agent had claimed for it. It was a capital 



